KUALA LUMPUR: The government is set to enforce the Building Information Modelling (BIM) for construction of public projects above RM100 million by 2019.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the adoption of BIM would enable developers to control development cost by allowing precise building design.
"There will be no changes in construction cost as BIM can reduce significantly the variation order (VO) and design error. Thus, we can minimise construction risk scope," he told reporters after launching the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia's (CIDB) myBIM centre in Kuala Lumpur, today.
He added that BIM promotes smoother construction project by controlling the building cost.
"BIM is a digital building model software capable to detect the error in the initial design. The system also can make building improvement by visualising the real building projects. We can minimise the error during design stage to ensure construction will be less variation order," he said.
Fadillah said BIM allows construction projects to be completed ahead of time according to specific quality.
"We are moving away from AutoCAD to BIM. Once we have all the expertise in terms of consultation and training on design, eventually we can also implement industrialised building system (IBS)," he said.
myBIM Centre is the country's first one-stop centre to promote and increase the use of BIM system among construction industry players.
CIDB Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Ir Ahmad ‘Asri Abdul Hamid said the board is allocating RM1 million incentive for contractors, developers and consultants to utilise the BIM in 2018.
"They will get their people to be trained at this BIM centre. BIM is sufficient to save construction cost, time and human error," he added.
Ahmad 'Asri said companies can apply a minimum of RM33,000 under the CIDB Transformation Fund programme, catering for BIM learning.
He said BIM helps improve the efficiency and quality as well as productivity of the overall construction process.
BIM is recognised as an advanced information and communications technology (ICT), allowing users to design, visualise, simulate and analyse the key physical and functional characteristic of each element in a project virtually and even before construction begins.
He said the adoption of BlM in Malaysia is currently at 17 per cent, which is relatively lower compared to more developed economies such as the United States at 71 per cent and United Kingdom at 54 per cent.
With an initial investment of RM3 million, myBIM centre enables construction industry players to model and visualise building projects in a simulated environment.
He said BIM makes it possible to identify and rectify potential issues in the early stages.
According to the Malaysian Productivity Corp, the construction industry experienced the lowest productivity level of RM40,018 per worker in 2016.
This is in comparison to the agriculture sector at RM55,485 per worker, services sector at RM68,166 per worker while manufacturing remained as the sector with the highest productivity level at RM106,647 per worker.
Notable projects in Malaysia that have been developed through the use of BlM include the National Cancer Institute in Putrajaya, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Building in Shah Alam, the Educity Sports Complex in Nusajaya and the Ancasa Hotel in Pekan, Pahang.
BlM software and proficiency training programmes will be offered at myBIM Centre, complementing the use of the National BlM Library portal.
To date 1,300 BIM personnel have been trained by CIDB.
The centre also features facilities including a studio which is available for rental to all BIM practitioner a lab, seminar room and showcase area.
